Weightlifting belt and system

Abstract

A weightlifting belt includes a band of padding configured to be banded about a waist of a user and a continuous chain extending in spaced relation to the padding. The chain is coupled to the band of padding at a plurality of spaced locations along the padding. The chain is fixed to the padding at at least one of the plurality of locations and is moveably coupled to the padding at at least one of the spaced locations. In one embodiment, the center of the chain is fixed to the center of the band of padding. Also, the chain may be configured to extend about an outer surface of the padding when the padding and the chain are banded about the waist of the user. The chain may be radially spaced with respect to the outer surface of the padding.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A weightlifting system comprised of:
 a weightlifting belt including:
 a band of padding configured to be banded about a waist of a user, the band of padding having an interior surface facing the waist of the user and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface; and 
 a chain extending about a length of the exterior surface of the band of padding, such that the chain is coupled to the band of padding at a plurality of spaced locations along the band of padding, wherein the chain is fixed to the band of padding at at least one of the plurality of spaced locations and is moveably coupled to the band of padding at at least one of the plurality of spaced locations, wherein at the plurality of spaced locations the chain is spaced apart from the band of padding; and 
 
 a weight holder configured to support at least one weight plate having a central opening therethrough, and to couple the at least one weight plate to the weightlifting belt. 
 
     
     
       2. The weightlifting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight holder includes an elongated base coupled to lower ends of three posts, which are spaced equidistantly from each other, wherein a center one of the three posts has a connector attached to an upper end thereof for connecting the weight holder to the coupler, and wherein each of the three posts is configured to extend through the central opening in the at least one weight plate. 
     
     
       3. The weightlifting system according to  claim 2 , wherein the elongated base is formed as a modular assembly of three segments, corresponding to each of the three posts, and couplable together and to each of the three posts. 
     
     
       4. The weightlifting system according to  claim 3 , wherein the three segments are configured for tool-less coupling to one another and to the three posts. 
     
     
       5. The weightlifting system according to  claim 2 , wherein the connector is a spring catch retained partially inside the upper end, wherein the spring catch includes a hook and spring-loaded gate that interfaces with an end of the hook. 
     
     
       6. The weightlifting system according to  claim 2 , wherein the weight holder is configured for transport in a gym bag when the weight holder is in a disassembled configuration. 
     
     
       7. The weightlifting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the chain is coupled to the band of padding with a plurality of fasteners that are spaced along a length of the weightlifting belt. 
     
     
       8. The weightlifting system according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of fasteners are bolts that extend through the chain. 
     
     
       9. The weightlifting system according to  claim 8 , wherein the band of padding is formed of a compressible material, including rubber. 
     
     
       10. The weightlifting system according to  claim 7 , wherein the chain includes a plurality of links, wherein the plurality of fasteners extends through corresponding links of the plurality of links, and wherein at least one of the links of the plurality of links is free to rotate and translate with respect to one corresponding fastener of the plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
       11. The weightlifting system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a coupler for coupling ends of the chain together. 
     
     
       12. The weightlifting system according to  claim 11 , wherein the weight holder includes an upper hook and a lower hook joined to the upper hook, the upper hook configured to connect to the coupler and the lower hook configured to pass through the central opening in the at least one weight plate. 
     
     
       13. The weightlifting system according to  claim 12 , wherein the lower hook has a free end and a closed end, wherein the free end is configured to pass through the central opening in the at least one weight plate, and wherein the lower hook is configured to urge the at least one weight plate towards the closed end. 
     
     
       14. The weightlifting system according to  claim 12 , wherein the upper hook and the lower hook are oriented perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
       15. The weightlifting system according to  claim 1 , wherein a center of the chain is fixed to a center of the band of padding. 
     
     
       16. The weightlifting system according to  claim 15 , wherein the chain is configured to extend about the outer surface of the band of padding when the band of padding and the chain are banded about the waist of the user. 
     
     
       17. The weightlifting system according to  claim 16 , wherein the chain is radially spaced with respect to the outer surface of the band of padding. 
     
     
       18. The weightlifting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight holder includes a post, a base attached to a lower end of the post, and a connector attached to an upper end of the post, the post being configured to extend through the central opening in the at least one weight plate, and wherein the connector is configured to removably connect to a coupler for coupling ends of the chain together. 
     
     
       19. The weightlifting system according to  claim 18 , wherein the post has a diameter less than the central opening of the at least one weight plate and the base has a diameter larger than the central opening of the at least one weight plate. 
     
     
       20. The weightlifting system according to  claim 18 , wherein the connector is a spring catch retained partially inside the upper end, wherein the spring catch includes a hook and spring-loaded gate that interfaces with an end of the hook. 
     
     
       21. The weightlifting system according to  claim 18 , wherein the post is extendable. 
     
     
       22. The weightlifting system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a coupler for coupling ends of the chain together to band the weightlifting belt about the waist of the user. 
     
     
       23. The weightlifting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the chain is continuous. 
     
     
       24. The weightlifting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the chain has a length that is at least as long as the length of the band of padding. 
     
     
       25. The weightlifting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the chain includes links having a ninety-degree twist. 
     
     
       26. The weightlifting system according to  claim 1 , wherein a load transferred to the chain caused by the user lifting the load is isolated between the chain and the band of padding of the weightlifting belt. 
     
     
       27. A weightlifting system comprised of:
 a weightlifting belt including:
 a band of padding configured to be banded about a waist of a user, the band of padding having an interior surface facing the waist of the user and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface; and 
 a chain extending about a length of the exterior surface of the band of padding, the chain being coupled to the band of padding at a plurality of spaced locations along a length of the band of padding; and 
 
 a weight holder configured to support at least one weight plate having a central opening therethrough, and to couple the at least one weight plate to the weightlifting belt,
 wherein the weight holder includes a post, a base attached to a lower end of the post, and a connector attached to an upper end of the post, the post being configured to extend through the central opening in the at least one weight plate, 
 wherein the connector is configured to removably connect to the coupler, wherein the connector is a spring catch retained partially inside the upper end of the post, 
 wherein the spring catch includes a hook and spring-loaded gate that interfaces with an end of the hook, and 
 wherein the hook and spring-loaded gate are separately rotatable relative to the post.